Boiling Zeal
The words of Paul so vividly describe heaven’s view of how we should respond after we have given our lives to God. He talks about the fact that Christ “…gave Himself for us, that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous of good works” (Tit. 2:14). We are special to Him, and our response is that we should work for it with zeal.
The Greek word for zeal is used to describe water that is being heated and then reaches the point where it begins boiling vigorously. It might have at one time been cold, then it became lukewarm but the end result is so obvious to all. It has been heated up but now it is boiling over. Paul uses this word to describe his devotion to Judaism and then repeatedly used it to describe his service to God.
There is no story in the Bible which shows the application of this message better than the events which happened early in the public life of Jesus. At His first miracle performed in the wedding in Cana He said to His mother, “My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4), but because of her insistence He began displaying His power. Shortly thereafter He was in Jerusalem where He manifested exactly who He was and why He came. He had obviously come to do what His Father wanted.
Before He came into the world, He knew that He was to be given the body of a man, and He knew how He should use that body in serving God. He said, “A body You have prepared for Me…behold I come to do your will” (Heb. 2:5-9). Jesus was in Jerusalem and look at how fervently He used His body.
He came into the temple and saw what was happening. He looked around Him and saw the oxen, sheep, doves and the tables of the money changers. What followed had to startle those who saw it. Jesus took a whip and drove those thieves who had turned a house of prayer into a den of thieves. His own disciples did not understand what He was doing and why He was doing it. It was only later that they remember that prophecy about Jesus, “The zeal for Your house has eaten me up” (John 2:14-17). He was consumed by what He saw. His “spiritual temperature” began to rise, and it then boiled over, leaving behind empty “stores” and overturned tables.
Now as you look at Him who has left us the example we should follow, look at yourself. What is your “spiritual temperature” of service? As you use the body God has prepared for you, what is your level of devotion? Think about Jesus and how He responded. I am not advocating turning over tables, but I urge you to let your devotion become more and more fervent as you become like Him. What is your “temperature”?
